William Parker

William Parker was born on the 17^th April, 1806 in Badwell Ash, Suffolk. He was employed as a cook and publican in Aldgate, London. In 1829 he was arrested with James Turner for stealing 15 bottles, value 3s. and 9p. and 2 ½ gallons of wine, valued at 21s. They were both convicted at the Old Bailey and sentenced to 14 years transportation on the 10^th September, 1829.

William left England  on the 2^nd December, 1829 on board the Mermaid, commanded by Captain Henniker. There were 200 male convicts on board and they arrived in Sydney on the 7^th May, 1830. He was assigned to Thomas Petty, the owner of the Pulteney Hotel in Bent Street, Sydney. He formed a relationship with Caroline Kensett who was assigned to Henry Miller, an upholsterer in Castlereagh Street, quite close by.

Their first child was born on the 7^th December, 1831, and was named William James Parker. They had 4 children in all, 2 boys and 2 girls.

On the 22^nd December, 1835 a notice appeared in the Government Gazette, that advised that William Parker, convict number 30/775 from Mermaid had absconded from T. Mayner, Sydney, agent for Sam Lennox Adair. He must have been caught because in late 1836, he was assigned to James Adair of Cardoness at Vacy.

William died at Cardoness, Vacy in May, 1837, several days before his wife, Caroline arrived with their daughter, Jane Elizabeth. He was buried near the banks of the Paterson River, Cardoness, Vacy in an unmarked grave.

William Parker Absconds